Welcome to La Porte County Public Library's eNewsletter, Books and Beyond, where we share news about programs, materials, and services the Library has to offer YOU. Pass this eNewsletter along to your family, friends, and colleagues so everyone can see what's new at the Library!

365: Today @ the library

La Porte County Public Library is letting you in on what goes on at the Library by posting daily photos on Instagram. You can see the daily updates on our website, and on Instagram. Follow us using the app with our username laportelibrary to get behind the scenes looks at daily operations, programs and events, and actions that go into providing materials and services to the community that you may not have known existed. Follow us! Like us! #365 forever!

The Winter Reading Program is underway! Stop in to any Library location all of February and participate. Students in kindergarten through 5th grades complete a variety of activities, games, reading, and attend programs to earn rewards. Thirty participants will win a ticket for the grand prize event: a LEGOŽ Bridge Building Workshop in

La Porte, and a free entry into the Schaumburg, Illinois LEGOLAND! Preschool age children and parents can pick up an activity calendar, complete 14 activities, and return it to any Library location. Each child will choose a book for a prize and be entered to win a LEGO DuploŽ Read & Build activity kit. Go to our website and learn more.

Check out the MobileLibrary's Winter Schedule

La Porte County Public Library Mobile Library is, well, mobile and coming to your neighborhood. Get all the books, magazines, music, and games you want and more brought directly to you. The winter schedule is available here and new stops have been added including Whispering Meadows, Purdue Extension, and Nybe Homes. Contact us at 219.362.6156 ext. 343 if you would like your neighborhood to be added to a future route.

In March of 2013, the Library's first Early Literacy Center made its debut at Main Library during the Annual Preschool Open House. The Play, Grow, Read! Center provides numerous activities that foster early reading and writing development in children ages 1-5.

This Spring Play, Grow, Read! Centers are coming to the other Library locations throughout La Porte County. These spaces will continue to feature activities and games that incorporate five early literacy practices, which are talking, writing, reading, playing, and singing that will make learning fun for the child and the caregivers. We will keep you informed on the progress of our literacy centers.

Library Teaches How To Use Zinio

Zinio, the digital magazine collection service that allows patrons to check out the latest editions of magazines online by downloading them has become available to Library patrons for free since January. As with anything new, it may be confusing to navigate at first. If this is the case for you, check out this tutorial on Zinio produced by IT staff of the Library's Computer Lab. It will walk you through the process at your own pace to get you reading full content magazines on your device including a web browser, or on custom apps for Apple iOS, Android and Windows 8 smartphones and tablets. All you need to access Zinio is a library card and PIN. Keep checking the Library's YouTube account as more technical tutorials are coming in the near future.

Library Impact Survey

There is still time to take the online Library Impact Survey to collect information about how our patrons use public technology resources and services. This information will help the Library evaluate our current services to enable better outcomes and to communicate the value of public access technology with library stakeholders.

The last day to take the survey is February 12.The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete, is completely anonymous, and is available in English and Spanish. A full list of the survey questions can be found